The answers did little to calm the anger of downtown Allentown business owners, but after a meeting Tuesday with a city official, at least now they know what they're facing.

Yes, it's the city that's been trying to buy their properties. Yes, it's to make way for an $80 million to $100 million arena city officials are 90 percent certain will be built in the block west of Seventh Street and north of Hamilton Street. And yes, the city hopes to close on their properties by July 29.

Allentown's executive director of community and economic development, Sara Hailstone, had scheduled to meet with one business owner Tuesday. But when she walked into the third-floor conference room outside her City Hall office, she was met by two dozen people representing a dozen businesses in the path of the proposed hockey arena complex.

"I've worked 20 years of my life in this city. I need to plan my future," said Sam Hong, co-owner of New York Fashion at 711 Hamilton St. "Is this arena coming to our block or not?"

"We're not all the way there yet," Hailstone said, "but we're pretty sure that the block where you are all housed is the most appropriate place for the arena. It's 90/100 that it's going there."

By the end of the hour-long meeting, the merchants had some answers, and a pledge from Hailstone to help find them new shops downtown, if possible.

The meeting came after weeks during which, many of the business owners said, they've been "harassed'' by real estate agents and appraisers pressuring them to sell under the threat of eminent domain. Most said they were told little about who was trying to buy their land, why it was needed, and how long they would have to move if they agreed. Most said they didn't know the real estate agents were there on behalf of the city.

"It's been really sketchy," said Deydri Canario, whose mother owns ATAX Accounting at 31 N. Eighth St. "For all we knew, it could have been speculators trying to get our property."

Addressing their uncertainty, Hailstone said many things remain unclear, even to city officials. Even the design of the arena is not complete, so it's not yet known how many of the properties will have to be demolished. So far, of the roughly two dozen buildings in that block, the city has agreements of sale on several, Hailstone said.

"There's a lot we still don't know, but a lot more answers will emerge in the next 60 days," Hailstone said after the meeting. "We're not trying to hide anything."

The 8,500-seat arena would be owned by a yet-to-be-formed city authority. It would not only be the permanent home of the Phantoms, the minor league hockey team that develops players for the Philadelphia Flyers, but it would also host concerts and community events and potentially be part of a complex that could include a hotel and events center.

The Phantoms, who are playing in Glens Falls, N.Y., until they get a permanent facility, chose Allentown after their previous home, the Spectrum in Philadelphia, was marked for demolition.

The city initially targeted the Lehigh River waterfront for the arena, but Hailstone confirmed Tuesday that the focus has been shifted to the block between Seventh and Eighth streets, from Hamilton Street to Linden Street.

Some of the business owners were concerned about the price they would be paid, and whether they'd be able to find a new place that would allow them to be as successful.

"Is this the payment I get for being a faithful, hard-working businessman in this city?" Hong asked.

"We do value small business and we want you to stay in Allentown," Hailstone said. "We can't make any guarantees, but I promise you my staff can help you with relocation, maybe even in the same neighborhood."

Hailstone pledged that someone from her staff would contact all of the business owners who attended the meeting, not only to help them relocate if necessary, but also to be a point of contact for the business and property owners throughout the process.

She also agreed to deliver a timeline for how the project is scheduled to proceed in the coming months, and she offered her staff for any questions the owners may have in the future.

Though most of the merchants left the room as skeptical as when they arrived, they agreed to meet at City Hall again next month.